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Heat pump grants in the UK (2026)

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme changed on 28 April 2026: air-to-air heat pumps now qualify, the EPC requirement is gone and the scheme runs until 2030. Every product page shows whether a model can qualify; this guide explains the rules.

Air source and ground source
£7,500 (England & Wales)1
Replacing oil or LPG off the gas grid
£9,000 until March 20271,2
Air-to-air
£2,500, homes only (since 28 April 2026)1,3
Maximum size
45 kW per system4
Scheme end
Vouchers until 31 March 20305

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)

TechnologyGrant
Air-to-water heat pump£7,500 (£9,000 replacing oil/LPG off the gas grid)
Ground or water source heat pump£7,500 (£9,000 replacing oil/LPG off the gas grid)
Air-to-air heat pump (homes only)£2,500
Biomass boiler (rural, off gas grid)£5,000
Hybrid with a fossil-fuel boilernot eligible

Figures from GOV.UK and the grant notice effective 21 July 20261,2.

Who qualifies

  • You own the property: your home, a second home, a rented home or a business property. Social housing and most new builds are excluded6.
  • You are replacing fossil-fuel heating (gas, oil, LPG, coal) or direct electric heating – not another low-carbon system4.
  • Both the installer and the product are MCS-certified. Ofgem publishes a product eligibility list, but it is not exhaustive4,7.
  • The system is at most 45 kW and covers all space heating. Air-to-water and ground source systems must reach a SCOP of at least 2.8 in the MCS calculation for your home4.
  • Since 28 April 2026 you no longer need an EPC without insulation recommendations3.

How to apply

You don’t apply yourself: your MCS installer applies to Ofgem and deducts the grant from your quote. Vouchers are valid for 3 months (6 months for ground source)4,8.

Grant calculator

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland is not covered by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Home Energy Scotland offers a grant of up to £7,500 for a heat pump, plus £1,500 in rural and island areas, and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. Air-to-air and hybrid systems are excluded, and you need an EPC with recommended loft or cavity insulation done first9,10.

Northern Ireland has no general heat pump grant; only limited schemes for low-income households exist11.

VAT, loans and other schemes

  • 0% VAT on heat pumps supplied and installed together until 31 March 2027; from 1 April 2027 the rate returns to 5%12,13.
  • Warm Homes: Local Grant (England): free upgrades, including air-to-water heat pumps, for owner-occupiers with an EPC of D–G and a lower household income14.
  • Warm Homes Loan: lower-interest loans of £10,000–£35,000 for heat pumps; can be combined with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme15.

Noise and permitted development

In England, an air source heat pump can usually be installed without planning permission if it meets MCS 020(a): at most 37 dB LAeq,5min measured 1 m in front of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window, using the sound power in standard mode (not low-noise mode)16. Since 29 May 2025 the 1-metre boundary rule has gone and units up to 1.5 m³ are allowed; detached houses may have two units17. Wales adopted similar rules on 1 June 2026; Scotland still refers to the older MCS 02018,19.

Browse heat pumps with the grant per model →

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in 2026?

£7,500 for air-to-water and ground source heat pumps, £9,000 when replacing oil or LPG off the gas grid (until March 2027), and £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps in homes.

Can I get a grant for an air-to-air heat pump?

Yes, since 28 April 2026 air-to-air heat pumps in homes qualify for £2,500 in England and Wales. They are not eligible in Scotland’s Home Energy Scotland scheme.

Do I still need an EPC for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

No. The requirement for an EPC without outstanding insulation recommendations was removed on 28 April 2026. Scotland’s scheme still requires one.

Who applies for the grant?

Your MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem and deducts the grant from the price you pay.

Sources

  1. Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: what you can get — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  2. Notice of approved grant categories and values (21 July 2026) — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  3. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 — legislation.gov.uk · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  4. Boiler Upgrade Scheme: guidance for installers (V5) — Ofgem · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  5. Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations 2022, regulation 15 — legislation.gov.uk · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  6. Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: check if you’re eligible — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  7. Boiler Upgrade Scheme product eligibility — Ofgem · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  8. Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: how to apply — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  9. Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan — Home Energy Scotland · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  10. Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan: terms and conditions — Home Energy Scotland · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  11. Energy grants in Northern Ireland — Energy Saving Trust · third party · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  12. VAT on energy-saving materials and heating equipment (Notice 708/6) — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  13. VAT on energy-saving materials (research briefing CBP-8602) — House of Commons Library · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  14. Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  15. Warm Homes Loan Scheme: scheme rules (September 2026) — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  16. MCS 020(a) Issue 1.0 — MCS · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  17. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) Order 2025 (SI 2025/560) — legislation.gov.uk · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  18. Changes to permitted development rights in Wales from 1 June 2026 — MCS · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  19. Circular 1/2024: householder permitted development rights — Scottish Government · accessed 27 Sept 2026